Provider profile
Rainbow Restoration of St. Louis
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
St. Louis metro and Metro East homeowners dealing with water or fire damage who want a single company to handle drying, mold removal, and reconstruction under one contract.
Best for
- St. Louis metro and Metro East homeowners dealing with water damage, fire damage, or mold that developed after either — where one contractor needs to handle the full cycle from drying through reconstruction.
- Commercial property managers who need 24/7 emergency response for water or fire events with insurance coordination built in.
- Homeowners who want a franchise-backed operation with local ownership and a long track record of Google reviews in the area.
About this company
Rainbow Restoration of St. Louis is a franchise location based in Fairview Heights, IL, owned and operated by Kris DeWald. The franchise is part of the Neighborly family of home service brands. Mold remediation is one piece of a broader restoration operation that covers water damage, fire damage, storm damage, and full-service reconstruction. Their primary identity is as a disaster restoration company that handles mold work when it develops alongside water or fire damage, not as a mold-only firm.
What stands out is the breadth of service under one roof. They run dedicated water and fire teams, handle contents packout and cleaning, and do reconstruction after remediation — so a homeowner dealing with a burst pipe that led to mold can stay with one contractor from drying through drywall replacement. The franchise uses rapid structural drying with dehumidification and holds IICRC firm status. Reviews confirm they respond same-day for emergencies, including weekends.
Kris DeWald owns the franchise and shows up in reviews dating back years. Her family lost their home to a fire in 2008, which the company references as a founding motivation. Multiple reviewers mention working directly with Kris on insurance claims and project coordination. The franchise serves both residential and commercial properties across the St. Louis metro area and the Illinois Metro East.
A 4.9-star rating across 178 Google reviews is unusually strong for a restoration company. The volume is large enough that the rating carries real weight. Only one review in the last 18 months falls below 4 stars.
Services
Service area
Based in Fairview Heights, IL at 5711 N Illinois St. Serves the St. Louis metro area and the Illinois Metro East. Cities listed on their website include Belleville, Brighton, Columbia, Dupo, East St. Louis, Fairview Heights, Freeburg, Lebanon, Maryland Heights, Mascoutah, Millstadt, O'Fallon, St. Ann, St. Charles, St. Louis, Scott Air Force Base, Smithton, Valmeyer, and Waterloo. Reviews confirm work in Kirkwood, Ladue, Festus, and Columbia, IL.
Review consensus
Shay draws the most mentions by far, praised across at least ten reviews for customer service during fire recovery — reviewers describe her as patient, understanding, and attentive during stressful situations. Tom appears in multiple water damage reviews for honesty (one reviewer credits him with doing a free moisture check and recommending self-drying instead of charging for service) and for being informative about the process. Joey shows up across both fire and water jobs, praised for attention to detail and careful furniture handling. Marla and Ethan get repeat mentions on the water team for detailed work and for saving a home from a full gut after flooding. Deosha draws praise for customer service, with multiple reviewers naming her specifically. Kris DeWald is mentioned by name in several reviews for direct involvement in insurance claims and project coordination. Multiple reviewers highlight same-day or next-day response, including weekends and after-hours calls.
1 found across 178 total reviews at 4.9★. The single 1-star review comes from Olivia Kindernay (December 2025), who was referred by her insurance company after a house fire. She reported that the company returned belongings that were not hers, that items went missing as she settled back in, and that owner Kris DeWald was dismissive when she raised these concerns. The reviewer has no other Google reviews and received zero likes. The owner responded the same day with a detailed rebuttal: the structural cleaning was completed in September, contents were returned by October, and the company says it resolved each issue as it was raised with documentation. The owner also stated these complaints were not raised until the review was posted and that the insurance adjuster was unaware of them. The factual disagreement between customer and owner on whether issues were previously communicated is notable but unresolvable from the outside.
A cluster of approximately 15 five-star reviews appeared on April 22, 2026, many praising Shay by name. Several come from accounts with low review counts. This pattern is consistent with a company encouraging satisfied customers to leave reviews after a large project wraps up, which is common in restoration. The reviews contain specific details (fire recovery, water damage, named staff), so they read as genuine experiences posted on the same day rather than fabricated reviews. The owner response rate on negative reviews is 100%, and the single response was detailed and specific rather than a template.
Shay (customer service/fire team — positive across many reviews, praised for patience and attentiveness). Tom (technician — positive across multiple reviews, praised for honesty, free moisture checks, and being informative). Joey (technician — positive across fire and water jobs, praised for attention to detail and careful furniture handling). Marla (water team — positive, praised for detailed work and effort). Ethan (water team — positive, praised alongside Marla for saving a flooded home). Deosha (customer service — positive, praised for excellent service in multiple reviews). Kaia (team member — positive, praised for communication). Kameron (team member — positive, praised for helpfulness on quotes). Kris DeWald (owner — positive in most reviews for insurance coordination and direct involvement; named negatively in the single 1-star review for being dismissive). Matt (technician — positive, praised by an insurance adjuster in a website testimonial for quick, honest work). Al Watson (General Manager — positive, praised in a website testimonial for fire restoration). Justin (restoration team — positive, praised for helpfulness). Jordan (restoration team — positive, praised for helpfulness). Kylie (restoration team — positive, praised for helpfulness).
One complaint about missing items after a fire packout across 178 reviews, with a detailed owner rebuttal, gives you very little to worry about. Ask for Shay if you are going through fire recovery or Tom if you have water damage. If the job involves packing out your belongings, ask about their inventory tracking system before work begins.
Keep in mind
- This is a general restoration franchise, not a mold-focused firm. Mold removal is one of many services. If you have a standalone mold problem unrelated to water or fire damage, ask specifically about their mold remediation crew and how they scope mold-only jobs.
- One reviewer reported missing personal belongings after a fire contents packout. The owner responded with specific timelines and documentation countering the claim. This is a single incident across 178 reviews, but contents packout is inherently risky — ask about their inventory and tracking process before they pack your belongings.
- The franchise is based in Fairview Heights, IL, on the east side of the river. If your property is deep in St. Louis County or further west, confirm response time for your specific location.
- As a Neighborly franchise, local service decisions follow a corporate framework. The owner runs operations day-to-day, but pricing, processes, and warranty terms are influenced by the franchise system.